GDLive Newsfeed
We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time. Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
David's family
access_time 5 years ago
David received a $522 second payment.
"My life is different in that my children no longer miss to do their homework for lack of kerosene because of the reliable solar light that I bought using the cash transfer. There is a lot of peace in my marriage because I do not leave the house in the evening to watch the news in the local center because we can now watch the news together with my family at home. There is also my two cows that I bought, the joy that in few months time I shall start milking is great. I would have not been able to buy such quality grade cattle without the Givedirectly transfer since all the cash I earned from the casual work in the sugarcane farms always ended up in buying food for the family."
Rough's family
access_time 5 years ago
Rough received a $522 second payment.
"I have withdrawn the second transfer and spent it on purchase of a new motorcycle. This has become my source of self-employment that I have full control over. Unlike the previous case where I used to hire other people's motorcycles and get paid on commission basis, nowadays I take the whole income home. This has enabled me to send my children to a boarding school where they have really improved on their academic performance. I have also spent the remaining part of the transfer to buy a solar lighting system. My children nowadays have enough light to study and do their homework. Solar light is also very safe and cost effective compared to tin lamps that would sometimes go off due to lack of paraffin."
Lucia's family
access_time 5 years ago
Lucia received a $522 second payment.
"It has always been my ambition to live a better life. I spent the transfer on purchase of two cows that I hope will provide me with milk and improve my household nutrition. I also intend to sell the surplus milk and use the money to pay fees for my grandchildren. I also spent the remaining part in buying a solar lighting system. This has enabled me to save a lot on money that I initially used to buy paraffin. Solar light is also clean and efficient as it has no respiratory infection related ailments as compared to smoky tin lamps."
Jane's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Jane enrolled.
"Receiving this money means I will be able to buy new bedding, I will buy chairs and buy solar that I will use to light the house. Since I do not have a reliable source of income, I find it very expensive to be buying kerosene every evening to light the house and I could not raise enough money to buy solar, this transfer is going to enable me achieve this milestone. It will also help my grandchildren because they will study using the solar light. For a long time I have slept on torn mattress with old blanket that I always felt ashamed when visited with my sisters, I will also be able to buy new mattress and blankets. I have lived with the embarrassment of having guests sitting on very old chairs in my house, I will be able to buy chairs. And to ensure I get continued supply of money, I will use the second transfer to buy cows that after a short time shall deliver and I will be able to milk them. Part of the milk will be used by the family while the rest we will sell to get money to by food for the family and save for fees of my grandchildren."
Joyce's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Joyce received a $538 initial payment.
"My life is totally different. I am now happier than before. I have never even received such an amount of cash at once. I used to suffer with my children due to lack of funds. My husband earns meagerly from casual work at a bakery. I am happy to have the solar lighting in my house and grateful for that too."
Peter's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Peter received a $22 eighth payment.
"Through the cash that I have been getting from Give directly organization, I have been able to get some constant cash flow every month as opposed to how I used to struggle in the past by having to engage in a lot of unreliable casual jobs within the village. Secondly, I was able to buy a new solar lighting system using the money I have been getting from the organization. I specifically bought this items because Initially I had paraffin lamps that were so irritating and emitted a lot of black suite into the air that were a hazard to my health. I also bought the item because I knew I was in a position to pay for it in installments as the owners require. Finally the money has been of help to me so much because I have been able to boost my wife's business that was almost collapsing due to a reduction in capital. My wife normally sells second half clothes to the customers, something that has since kept the family afloat. I strongly believe that without the cash, this business would have completely collapsed, and the results of that would have been catastrophic for us."
Jesca's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Jesca received a $470 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life in that I now use solar light and my home looks like town."
Naomy's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Naomy received a $540 initial payment.
"We spent KES 25000 to buy a cow. We also spent KES 3000 to buy foodstuff. We also bought solar lighting at KES 8000 and a bed at KES 3500. We spent KES 6500 on clothing. We also gave out Tithe KES 5500. We are only left with KES 2000 which we will spent on buyingfarm input."
Wesley's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Wesley received a $540 initial payment.
"When I received the money from Give Directly, we had a food shortage and spent KES 10000 to buy food for my family. I had obtained a solar light system on credit and I spent KES 9000 to clear the balance. I also bought a television at KES 9000 and later bought a high breed heifer at KES 15000 for rearing. I am left with KES 8000 which am planning to spend on school fees for my children."
Annah's family
access_time over 5 years ago
Annah received a $467 initial payment.
"The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought my solar and my home looks like town with the solar light and every thing in my house is new."
solar light